Former Vodafone Fiji Bati captain Kevin Ligani Naiqama bid farewell to his rugby career during Saturday night’s Pacific Bowl championship game, where the Bati team secured a resounding 56-6 victory over Cook Islands at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The match served as a fitting farewell for the 35-year-old from Nabuna, Koro, Lomaiviti, who has expressed his intention to take some time to reflect on his career and spend quality moments with his family.
Kevin Naiqama has had an illustrious career, representing Fiji in three Rugby League World Cups and captaining the team in the 2022 World Cup in England, where they reached the quarter-finals. Throughout his journey, he earned a remarkable 24 caps for the Fiji Bati, as well as clinching three NRL Grand Finals and two Super League titles.
Reflecting on his emotions during his last two weeks in Fiji, Naiqama said it has been an experience like none other. “I’m really honoured and privileged to represent my country – it was just so fitting to have my last game here in Fiji,” he stated. Looking forward, he mentioned that he would consider what his wife Lily wants for their future, recognizing her support throughout his career.
Naiqama praised the Bati team’s performance and expressed optimism about their chances in the Pacific Bowl Championship, contingent on Cook Islands defeating the Papua New Guinea Kumuls in Port Moresby.
Since starting in the Super League in 2019, he later returned to the NRL in 2022, before rejoining the Super League with Huddersfield, where he played 52 matches this year. Naiqama emphasized the unique bond that representing Fiji brings, grounded in heritage and family. Witnessing his family from Koro wear T-shirts with his name and face further highlighted the significance of his journey.
His impressive 14-year career included stints with the Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers, St Helens RLFC, Sydney Roosters, and most recently, the Huddersfield Giants.
This farewell not only marks the end of a chapter for Naiqama but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of athletes who aspire to follow in his footsteps. With a commendable career behind him, Naiqama’s legacy in rugby league will surely be remembered, as he steps into a new phase focused on family and future adventures.
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